Responses of Azam A. Riaz 1. What has motivated you to run for Jersey City school board? I would like to serve on the BOE because the current education system has glaring issues. There are many positives but they are not being used in the proper manner. The JC school system has a big budget but it is not being used efficiently or effectively. There are many extracurricular activities available through the school system but there is low student involvement in certain activities. The teachers are a great asset but the current BOE does not offer the teachers proper resources and training to be successful in the classroom. I have many qualifications that I bring to the system. I am only a few years removed from the education system. So, I bring a fresh face, a fresh start. I have an MBA in Global Management from Fairleigh Dickinson University. I have a background in auditing/accounting, so I will be able to locate the issues in the budget. One of the first things with respect to the budget that will be performed is an efficiency audit at every level of the school system and the wastage will be remedied. I am also a teacher of a Sunday school so I know what motivates students. Teaching them with real life examples and participation of the students provides for a lighter environment I will make myself accessible to the teachers via parent/BOE meetings. There will be office hours for teachers, students and parents. There will be forums that will be held for teachers, students and parents. There will be a public website in which all complaints and request for meetings can be filed. This will be provided to the students to lodge any complaints or areas that can be improved. A full inquiry would be undertaken to address the areas of concern and any complaints. Through a series of meetings and notices, the parents will be provided up to date information with respect to the education system. 2. What are your top goals for your three year term? The top goal will be to restore trust into the public education system by providing proper usage of the budget, effective utilization of the teachers in the classroom and an effective curriculum for the students. Certain schools are overcrowded. One way to change the student overload is by restricting open enrollment from other municipalities into Jersey City. We would keep open enrollment available only within the Jersey City district. If the problem persisted, then we would restrict open enrollment to certain areas. Instruction at schools can be improved if we deemphasize teaching towards the test. If the entire curriculum is designed to pass one test, then there was no real learning. All the students participated in was a yearlong preparation course that specialized institutions provide for a few dollars compared to the $20,000 per student per annum. It is important that we teach the students about real life scenarios. Real life does not consist of one test on an annual basis. Real life consists of constant challenges. The students should be able to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes. The teachers should be able to experiment within certain parameters to enhance the learning abilities of the students in the classrooms. The teachers are frightened that they will be reprimanded if they deviate from the curriculum. There is currently only one curriculum for every student in the school system. We have to get rid of the cookie cutter approach, one-size fits all. We should institute other methods of learning. One way we can change the education is by having local businesses getting involved in the education process by serving as mentors. We need to institute mentorships, internships, and apprenticeships into the school system. Students should be involved with CEOs of companies, elected officials in the political system, officials of the BOE, and make available many other vocational learning experiences. 3. Are you running on a slate with other candidates? If so, who are they and what do you think you can achieve as a complete slate? Yes, I am part of a team - Team Malik Abdul J. Malik - A2 Khaled Dardir - A3 Azam A. Riaz - A9 As a complete slate, we will be able to provide unique ideas that each of us has and bring them together into a positive board. Mr. Malik has an expertise as a medical doctor and professor, Mr. Dardir is a school teacher, and I (Azam Riaz) am an accountant/auditor. Each one of us brings a unique expertise into the mix. Team Malik wants to take the responsibility on the BOE to restore integrity, accountability, and trust into the public education system and address all the issues mentioned above. A Little More About Myself I am the oldest of seven children. Each one of us attended private education system. My parents did not want us to be exposed to the undisciplined environment of the public education system. My parents always wanted to instill discipline. So, in essence, my parents have paid their hard earned money as well as tax dollars into the education system. My parents sacrificed the finer things in life for themselves hoping that their children would turn out to be disciplined, honest, diligent, hardworking young men and women. I am an accountant, my brother after me is a doctor, next brother is a Jersey City police officer, next brother is an MBA student at Saint Peter's College, sister is an undergraduate student at Saint Elizabeth University, sister is an undergraduate student at Saint Peter's College, and baby brother is a high school student at Saint Peter's Prep. All of the brothers went to Saint Peter's Prep, and both of my sisters went to Sacred Heart High School. Now, I am married and have three children with a two year old and a set of twins one year old each. I need to keep my options open. So, as a concerned parent, I am trying to make a difference in the Jersey City school system. As you can imagine, my parents have invested a great deal in their children. Sometimes I think that we may be better off without the public school system and privatize the education system with the government providing tax dollars to the residents of the community. For example, St. Peter's Prep provides an education for a little less than $10,000 per year but the public education system is costing $16,000 to $22,000 per student on annual basis. It appears that the private education system is appropriate, but there are issues with private education system such as teachers receive lesser pay, no pensions, very few perks and benefits matching the public school system. The teachers are human beings and they deserve a high quality of life just like any other individual in any other profession. So, we are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. Mr. Riaz also attached photos and a bio which you can view here.